A fresh investigation has been launched into alleged abuse at a Coventry children’s care home.

The Telegraph can reveal West Midlands Police are looking into more complaints of abuse at the now-demolished Wisteria Lodge, in Earlsdon.

And officers are also investigating whether the alleged perpetrators also committed crimes while working at other children’s homes across the city.

The news follows two men being jailed last month for the physical and psychological abuse of teenagers at Wisteria Lodge in the 1980s.

Alan Todd and Kenneth Owen were found guilty by a jury at Warwick Crown Court of charges of indecent assault and child cruelty.

Todd, aged 70, who lives on a narrowboat at Stretton-under-Fosse, near Rugby, but formerly of Tile Hill, Coventry, was jailed for eight years and eight months.

Owen, also 70, from Boston, Lincolnshire, was given a sentence of four years and two months.

The new police probe is in respect to one of their victims and has seen detectives cast a wider net over potential incidents in the 1970s, 80s and 90s.

A spokesman for West Midland Police said: “Officers have spoken to one of the victims about a complaint made in 1998, which was not connected to Wisteria Lodge - we have apologised for how that complaint was dealt with by officers in the 1990s.

“While discussing her original complaint in 2013, the victim made further disclosures concerning her treatment while she was a resident at Wisteria Lodge, which weren’t made at the original time.

“These were immediately recorded as a new complaint and a fresh investigation was opened.

“As part of the on-going investigation, we are reviewing concerns that the offenders worked at other care homes within the city during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.”

Alan Todd (left) and Kenneth Owen. Both men were jailed for their role in the abuse of children at Wisteria Lodge children's home in Earlsdon.

It said: “We would like to apologise to the victims who suffered so terribly while they were in the council’s care. We have helped the police with their inquiries in this case and will continue to do so.

“These crimes happened a number of years ago and the safeguards we have in place now make it a priority for the voice of the child or young person to be heard. We continually review and improve our safeguarding procedures.”

The West Midlands Police spokesman added: “Protecting those who are most vulnerable is our priority and the force has made huge improvements in dealing with child abuse since the 1990s.

“There is now a specialised public protection unit, consisting of over 800 specially trained police officers and staff in tackling amongst other things, child protection.

“Our efforts in recent years have seen many people arrested, charged and brought before the courts for child abuse crimes, including those which are historic crimes but the victims have found the courage to speak to police many years later.

“We are fully committed to working together with our partners to ensure that children and young people are safe.”

Anyone who may have been a victim of abuse, or has any information on such incidents, is asked to call police on 101.